Hyper Motard Check In

I am just curious to see how many of you ride an HM? I am a bit of a hooligan but like to use the HM for touring. I find that it's really not bad you just have to plan your trips accordingly when it comes to fuel stops.

Love my Hyper and I cant wait to do some serious touring this summer. Already added the 6.4 gal tank, grabbed the factory rack, tried the DP tail pack but returned it, and went with a 36 L Givi topcase. My GF calls it a cancer growth on my bike, but i have to admit its extremely functional. I mounted it closer to where the passenger sits, so hopefully less likely to break the factory rack (some people have had issues with too much weight on the factory rack).

heres some pics too, I need to get better ones with the givi on, but Ive been riding (rain or shine) rather than stopping to take photos :)

I picked up a '10 796 a few weeks ago and I love it. I find it very comfortable so far and think it was the perfect choice of a bike for me. One of the guys I work with and I have been tossing around the idea of riding to work later this summer. We work on boat in Hood Canal and Port Angeles areas I live in Denver and he lives in Nebraska. So We where Planning a meet and ride.

I'm not partial to that either but to each is own. Also, the DP racks have a reputation of breaking unless beefed up. I do everything on mine from commuting to sport touring. Depending on the ride/season/weather and what I have to carry I use anything from a cargo net on the seat to a set of Cortech sport saddlebags, although you can't use those with the single side can exhaust.

I bought it slightly used. It already had the full Termi and DP seat and mirrors on it. I had some of the parts powdercoated and put the open clutch setup on it.

Click to expand...

Love the look of this bike. Are they really as uncomfortable as I have read? I guess I'm typical as Ducs really pull at my heart strings but my brain keeps bringing up logical questions such as "how reliable?", "is it really a sensible only bike?". "is there a dealer nearby?". Stupid brain.

Your's has a much better mirror setup. They should offer the standard type as a factory option. The folding wing mirrors are much too wide and seem to value style over function.

Love the look of this bike. Are they really as uncomfortable as I have read? I guess I'm typical as Ducs really pull at my heart strings but my brain keeps bringing up logical questions such as "how reliable?", "is it really a sensible only bike?". "is there a dealer nearby?". Stupid brain.

Your's has a much better mirror setup. They should offer the standard type as a factory option. The folding wing mirrors are much too wide and seem to value style over function.

Tim

Click to expand...

I guess the early 1100s had hard seats from what I have read. I have a hyper 796 and I think it is very comfortable to ride all day. I am also very happy with the stock mirrors, I can see for miles behind me. They are wide, but lane splitting is not allowed in CO and I don't see anytime that I would be trying to squeeze through a space that small. If I do I'll just flip'em in. It is comfortable for 2-up riding. My wifes only complaint is her ass gets hot from the exhaust when on the highway. There is no trunk or helmet lock. But I wear a backpack so storage issues and am working on a helmet lock fix.

The stock '08 seat sucks, it forces you forward. Whats on the new bikes seems like the DP comfort seat I replaced my stocker with. Its an all day rider with this seat. The only time the bike gets uncomfortable is in longer 80+ MPH slab runs, because your sitting almost straight up. IMO it sucks for 2 up unless you are both small, I took the rear peg brackets off.

The handguard/mirror setup is for style. Its fragile, expensive, and the mirrors constantly loosen and loose adjustment. I replaced mine with the DP guards (black Acerbis Rally Pros), CRG lane splitter mirrors, bar end sliders, and mini LED blinkers mounted to the forks with rubber enduro headlight straps. Much more functional and durable. I also added a pair of VisionX lights to the handguard mounts which are awesome for both daytime visability and night riding.

mcteague, thanks for the compliment. The seat I have is the "performance" seat which is actually firmer than the stock seat. It does get uncomfortable after a few hours, but Ducati offers a "comfort" seat that I have read good reviews on. I also still have the stock seat, so I might see about just having that one custom modified. So far, a few hour ride is about all I do, so it hasn't been a high priority.

Otherwise, the ergos are right on for me. The windblast does get old at extended highway speeds, but not untolerable for me. If that is an issue, there are windscreens made for it.

As far as reliability, these air cooled Ducati motors are right up there with any Japanese motors if you maintain them. And, the maintenance isn't really bad any more. 3000 mile oil changes which are real easy to DIY. If you don't want to tackle the valve adjustment, it's only every 7500 miles, so that's not even a big issue unless you put a lot of mileage on a bike.

Mine is a weekend toy/once in a while commuter, so it doesn't get big miles put on it. Even if I could ride it every day to work (which would be fun), I wouldn't. Just because I couldn't stand to see it sit in the heat of our Texas summers (no covered parking at my work).

As far as being a sensible only bike, I think it would be the most sensible out of my three. I love my Guzzi, but it's not a very good in town bike to me. It's a lot easier to tolerate the Ducati on the highway than the Guzzi in the city IMHO. And, the supermoto, while very fun, is pretty tiring on highway rides.

I say follow your and get the Ducati. At least try to get a test ride on one to help you decide. One test ride is all it took for me...

Future Hyper owner here - picking it up in a week or so . I currently ride a yamaha FJR1300. Very different type of bike but I want to try somthing different. I absolutely love the looks of the hyper! I'm getting the 6.5 gallon tank installed along with some motovation sliders and probably a windscreen.

I've had this for a year and a half or so. I'm using it as an occasional ride bike & it's a keeper. I'm tallish and the bike fits. Sit forward like you should and it's comfy, with a side benefit of keeping the front wheel on the ground.